Cellulose nanomaterials: life cycle risk assessment, and environmental health and safety roadmap

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 477-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jo Anne Shatkin ◽  
Baram Kim

Cellulose nanomaterials (CNs) derived from wood fibers are renewable materials with wide applicability for use in consumer products as a bio-based composite material and have the potential to replace petroleum-based materials in many existing and novel applications.

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (9) ◽  
pp. 607-618
Author(s):  
Rachel E Zisook ◽  
Andrew Monnot ◽  
Justine Parker ◽  
Shannon Gaffney ◽  
Scott Dotson ◽  
...  

As businesses attempt to reopen to varying degrees amid the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, industrial hygiene (IH) and occupational and environmental health and safety (OEHS) professionals have been challenged with assessing and managing the risks of COVID-19 in the workplace. In general, the available IH/OEHS tools were designed to control hazards originating in the workplace; however, attempts to tailor them specifically to the control of infectious disease outbreaks have been limited. This analysis evaluated the IH decision-making framework (Anticipate, Recognize, Evaluate, Control, and Confirm (“ARECC”)) as it relates to biological hazards, in general, and to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), specifically. Available IH/OEHS risk assessment and risk management tools (e.g. control banding and the hierarchy of controls) are important components of the ARECC framework. These conceptual models, however, were primarily developed for controlling chemical hazards and must be adapted to the unique characteristics of highly infectious and virulent pathogens, such as SARS-CoV-2. This assessment provides an overview of the key considerations for developing occupational infection control plans, selecting the best available controls, and applying other emerging tools (e.g. quantitative microbial risk assessment), with the ultimate goal of facilitating risk management decisions during the current global pandemic.


Author(s):  
Mohieldeen M.A. Ahmed ◽  
Muzmmel M.M. Ibrahim ◽  
Omer M.A. Al Ghabshawi

This study focused on evaluating the concepts of risk assessment associated with unsafe acts according to hazard identification at Gaili Area, Khartoum North, Sudan. Approaches used in this study; Research tools: Interviews, definite questionnaire & computer program for descriptive statistics – statistical package for social science (SSPS/version 22 – 2014). The study of risk assessment is conducted for workers in fuel terminals at Gaili area and analyzed using environmental health and safety concepts for eight jobs. Risk is associated with Job (driver, electrician, pump attendant, etc.), after hazards to be identified (natural, environmental, technological, biochemical, etc.). Fuel truck drivers at Gaili area showed the most highly risk job. The result showed that 60% of the incidents were caused by the hydrocarbon fuel transport drivers at the study area as the most highly risk job, followed by the electricians being the most affected job by electrical shocks during working hours followed by the pump attendants then welders followed by mechanics; including fatalities, restricted work activities, injuries, first aid and property damage. The study recommended to formulate of temporary committees such as autumn committee is not efficient in solving the problem, HSE steering committee should be a permanent committee to direct the emergency planning according to risk based assessment for identified hazards.


2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Milica Perić ◽  
Igor Hut ◽  
Svetlana Pelemiš ◽  
Lidija Matija

Nano-engineered materials are playing an ever growing role in the rapidly developing field of sustainable energy production. Besides providing numerous opportuni-ties for innovations in this domain, utilisation of nanostructured materials raises numerous doubts regarding their impact on the environment and possible adverse effects on human health. Providing reliable methods for analysis, evaluation and dealing with the environ-mental and health effects of nanotechnology is therefore crucial. In this article we will try to give an outline of possible approaches to deployment of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tools to nanomaterials used in certain applications for sustainable energy production. Use of such methods should also provide the possibility of comparing these new, emerging, technologies with that of already existing conventional ones in terms of their environmental, health and safety impacts.


JMS SKIMS ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 72-76
Author(s):  
Farooq A Shiekh ◽  
Mohammad Uzair Lodhi ◽  
Syed Douhath Yousuf ◽  
Taha A Qureshi ◽  
Syed Mudassar

Nanotechnology is not but many nanoscale technologies with powerful engineering to control nanomaterials or matter-building atom-by-atom is gaining speed and focus. Although, the organization and creation of nanotechnology products or materials is not random, unfortunately a little is done about the mechanisms or rules that govern its assembly and toxicity. As a result, environmental health and safety agencies around the world continue to grapple with how best to regulate these novel materials. Taken together, the focus must be directed towards approaches and sophisticated tools for risk assessment and management. This review article continues the debate and offers a unique view perspective from the vantage point of a nanotechnologist. JMS 2018: 21 (2):72-76


Author(s):  
Jun-Ki Choi ◽  
Karthik Ramani

Engineering designers consider many aspects surrounding a product’s life in order to meet safety, reliability, quality, manufacturing, and cost requirements. Most of the time this is done in an excellent way and the resulting products offers broad functionality with high quality and reasonable price. However serious considerations of integration of environmental requirements are often missed in the product development process. All products contribute to a range of environmental problems. These problems arise through the entire life cycle of products from the creation to the disposal of products. Design for environment (DfE) is the systematic consideration of design performance with respect to environmental, health, and safety objectives over the full product and process life-cycle. It takes place early in a product’s design or upgrade phase to ensure that the environmental consequences of a product’s life cycle are considered. The key issue to success is how to select the most appropriate and effective strategy for a particular product to reduce environmental impacts without disregarding the business strategies in the decision making process. In this paper, a general framework is proposed to integrate the life cycle assessment and decision analysis for prioritizing the design for environment strategy by considering uncertainty issues exist in the decision making process. A case study is illustrated focusing in the product upgrade phase. The ultimate goal is to provide a design advisory tool for product designers in the hopes of facilitating their complex decision making processes by considering the environmental issues in mind.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document